Brazilian Delight for Chua at Singapore Derby

July 10, 2010 - by Lawrence · Filed Under Singapore Racing News

Brazilian Delight for Chua at Singapore Derby

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Unable to get the services of a jockey that is already in Singapore who will ride Super Gold, trainer Sam Chua got the services of jockey Nelito Cunha via his friend Melvyn Ezekiel, a US-based Singaporean businessman who has racing interests in Brazil and in the United States. Cunha is on a one-day license for the 2000-metre S$1.15 million Singapore Derby.

Ezekiel, an active proponent of Singapore horse racing during the Bukit Timah days and owner of 1991 Singapore Derby winner Brixton Town said that he has no doubt that Cunha can make his mark in Singapore, just like some of the other transatlantic jockeys he has brought to Singapore including Wesley Ward, Declan Murphy, Larry Snyder, Don Pierce and Rick Dominguez.

Ezekiel said that Nelito’s style is banked on fluidity and rhythm that enables them to navigate easily on a horse. Cunha has won 22 Group 1 races in his jockey career of about 20 years. The 38-year-old jockey who will compete in his first Emirates Singapore Derby set foot at the Kranji racecourse for the first time days ago but he did not ride the horse and was impressed with his horse for a day.

Cunha recalled that this is his first time to ride outside South America and that the furthest that he has ridden was in Argentina and Peru. He also commended the beauty of the track and its lush greens. And though there is also a polytrack in Brazil, Cunha added that it is not used for Sunday races. Cunha is also liking the hot weather at Singapore which he compared to the temperature back home.

Cunha immediately accepted Chua’s offer due to his knowledge of Singapore horse racing and because his buddy, jockey Joao Moreira, is having a wonderful run at the local races. Moreira is the leading jockey in the Singapore premiership with 59 wins. Next to him is Vlad Duric with 48.

Moreira was all praises for Cunha and he said that he is one of the leading jockeys in Brazil due to his style that is fairly close to Moreira’s. Because of which, Moreira predicts a successful run for Cunha at the Emirates Singapore Derby.

Chua is hoping that Cunha will quickly adjust to the conditions at the Kranji racecourse and rides through the shortest course possible to the winning post with Super Gold. Aside from the Emirates Singapore Derby, Cunha will also compete in Race 4 with Chua’s Golden Ninth Horse and in Race 6 with Mohd Yusof’s Brian.

Chua said that Super Gold is in great condition and is ready to take on the Emirates Singapore Derby. When successful, it will be his second Derby winner after Lead to Victory in 2003. Though Super Gold is showing nice gallops, Chua is hoping for a good draw at the starting barriers for he is not too concerned with the race’s distance for he can easily run 2000 metres.

Super Gold has won two Group 3 races: the 1600-metre Committee’s Prize in 2009 wherein he carried only 50 kilograms. He also won the 1800-metre Moonbeam Vase wherein he carried 56 kilograms. Coming into the Emirates Singapore Derby, he is weighing 57 kilograms. Chua said that though he was more of a handicapper last year, Super Gold has built his strength and is ready to fight on equal terms.

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